<h2>Name</h2>
<p>
The Surah taken its name from the word <em>at takathur</em> in the first verse.
</p>
<h2>Period of Revelation</h2>
<p>
Abu Hayyan and Shaukani say that this Surah, according to all
commentators, is Makki, and this same is the well known view according
to Iman Suyuti. However, there are some traditions, on the basis of
which it is considered a Madani Surah, and they are as follows: 
</p>
<p>
Ibn Abi Hatim has cited Abu Buraidah as saying that this Surah was sent down
concerning the two tribes, Bani Harithah and Bani al-Harth, of the
Ansar. The two tribes had first recounted the glories and illustrious
deeds of their living men; then they had gone to the grave yard and
bragged of the glorious deeds of their dead. Thereupon the Divine
Revelation <em>Alhakum at takathur</em> came down. But, if the practice of the
Companions and their successors concerning the occasions of revelation,
is kept in view, this tradition is no argument to prove that Surah At
Takathur was sent down on that very occasion, but it shows that this
Surah fully applied to the act of the two tribes. 
</p>
<p>
Imam Bukhari and Ibn
Jarir have cited this view of Hadrat Ubayy bin Ka'ab: "We took the Holy
Prophet" saying: `If the son of Adam had two valley full of wealth, he
would long for a third valley; the son of Adam's belly cannot be
filled but by earth, to be from the Quran until <em>Alhakum at takathur</em>
was sent down. This <em>Hadith</em> has been regarded as an argument for Surah
At-Takathur to be a Madani Surah on the ground that Hadrat Ubayy had
become a Muslim in Madinah. But Hadrat Ubayy's this statement does not
indicate in what sense the Companions regarded this saying of the Holy
Prophet (upon whom be peace) as belonging to the Quran. If it means
that they regarded it as a verse of the Quran, it cannot be acceptable,
for a great majority of the Companions consisted of the men who were
well aware of each and every word of the Quran; they could not have
the misunderstanding that the <em>Hadith</em> was a verse of the Quran. And if
its belonging to the Quran is taken to mean its being derived from the
Quran, the tradition can also mean that when the Companions who
entered Islam in Madinah, heard this Surah for the first time from the
Holy Prophet, they thought that it had been revealed just then, and
then about the Holy Prophet's above saying they formed the idea that
it was derived from this very Surah. 
</p>
<p>
Ibn Jarir Tirmidhi, Ibn al Mundhir
and other traditionists have related this view of Hadrat Ali: "We were
in doubt about the torment of the grave until <em>Alhakum at takathur</em> was
sent down." This view has been regarded as an argument for Surah At-
Takathur to be Madani on the ground that the torment of the grave was
first mentioned at Madinah; no mention of it was ever made at Makkah.
But this is wrong. In the Makki Surahs of the Quran, the torment of the
grave has been mentioned at many places so clearly that there can he
no room for any such doubt; for example, see Al- An'am: 93, An-Nahl:
28, Al-Muminun: 99-100, Al-Mu'min: 45-46, which are all Makki Surahs.
Therefore, if anything is proved by Hadrat Ali's saying, it is that
Surah At-Takathur had been revealed before the revelation of the above
mentioned Makki Surahs and its revelation had removed the Companions
doubt about the torment of the grave. 
</p>
<p>
That is why, in spite of these
traditions, a great majority of the commentators are agreed that this
Surah is Makki. In our opinion this is not only a Makki Surah but in
view of its contents and style it is one of the earliest Surahs to be
revealed at Makkah. 
</p>
<h2>Theme and Subject Matter</h2>
<p>
In it the people have
been warned of the evil consequences of world worship because of which
they spend their lives in acquiring more and more of worldly wealth,
material benefits and pleasures, and position and power, till death,
and in vying with one another and bragging and boasting about their
acquisitions. This one pursuit has so occupied them that they are left
with no time or opportunity for pursuing the higher things in life.
After warning the people of its evil end they have been told us if to
say: "These blessings which you are amassing and enjoying
thoughtlessly, are not mere blessings but are also a means of your
trial. For each one of these blessings and comforts you will surely be
called to account in the Hereafter."
</p>

